Help on how to beat insomnia

[superdidi]

This is the 4th night this week that I just can't seem to fall asleep.:sad:
I generally survive on little sleep but now its getting out of hand. I lie in bed for hours trying to drift off but my mind just won't shut off. Ive tried reading books in hope that it would tire out my mind, but it seems to have the opposite effect on me and makes me even more awake.

I have never tried any sleeping remedies and was a bit cautious of taking them as I'm not sure if they have any unpleasant side effects.
I am now wiling to try anything that will help me to get some sleep, so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

I'm guessing some of you might suggest a trip to my GP, but I really don't want to start taking any prescribed meds as I'm worried that my body will get used to them and will rely solely on the meds to go to sleep.

Thanks

 

[Emo]

I would suggest a long hot bath with some lavender oil and also some Kalms Sleep tablets. They are herbal tablets that promote natural sleep. If I am havin a few nites like that I will take them and they usually work! HTH's!

 

[Lynne Baker]

I've not slept a full night through since October 1994 so I have a little experience with insomnia. What works for one won't necessarily work for another, and I am resigned now to just being a crap sleeper. What I've found that works a bit for me is the following:
I sleep better when I've not had any alcohol
I drink only decaff tea and coffee - lordy do I notice a difference if I drink regular stuff.
I sleep when my body tells me to - doesn't matter what time of day it is - if my body says sleep then I don't ignore it.
Research has shown that if your feet are cold you are more likely to have a bad night's sleep - certainly this is the case for me, so I wear socks if necessary. They rarely last the night; I seem to kick them off at some point, but they do stop me thinking "my feet are cold!"
Use your bedroom for sleeping (and the other. Ahem) and nothing else. It shouldn't be an extension of your office, don't have a tv in there, don't do admin stuff in bed.
I often recite a repetitive little rhyme (don't laugh) which has a kind of hypnotic effect. "One potato, two potato, three potato, four, etc"
Most importantly - don't panic! It will pass - you won't die, however much you think you will!
Take it easy - be nice to yourself!
Good luck

 

[collin]

I've not slept a full night through since October 1994 so I have a little experience with insomnia. What works for one won't necessarily work for another, and I am resigned now to just being a crap sleeper. What I've found that works a bit for me is the following:
I sleep better when I've not had any alcohol
I drink only decaf tea and coffee - lordy do I notice a difference if I drink regular stuff.
I sleep when my body tells me to - doesn't matter what time of day it is - if my body says sleep then I don't ignore it.
Research has shown that if your feet are cold you are more likely to have a bad night's sleep - certainly this is the case for me, so I wear socks if necessary. They rarely last the night; I seem to kick them off at some point, but they do stop me thinking "my feet are cold!"
Use your bedroom for sleeping (and the other. Ahem) and nothing else. It shouldn't be an extension of your office, don't have a tv in there, don't do admin stuff in bed.
I often recite a repetitive little rhyme (don't laugh) which has a kind of hypnotic effect. "One potato, two potato, three potato, four, etc"
Most importantly - don't panic! It will pass - you won't die, however much you think you will!
Take it easy - be nice to yourself!
Good luck

Well it certainly does seem that you have some good tips here..try and leave your office and day to day life things out of the bed.

The other thing that works for Britta and I when we are to mind active and haven't slept properly for a week is to go on a bit of a detox thing for a week...this involves no intake of any red meat,dairy or wheat products,no caffeine,alcohol , works a treat.

The other aspect is that meal times are absolutely fantastic ..because you have to be careful what you eat you really do need to think what you cook..some meals are just Divine.:hug:

Try sitting in the lounge before going up to bed with a note pad and write down a list of the things,jobs to do down so you get them out of your head.

This might sound old fartish but we have an electric blanket..we tend to keep the house cool except for the open fire in the lounge..switch it on half an hr before bed and when you climb into bed its ..well erm heaven.

I have found that im waking at around 3.30 each morning as we sleep with the window slightly open ..switch the blanket on low and within 15mins its big ZZZZZZZZZZ's as it gets cozy and warm.

Also try increase physical activity...that always drains the energy levels and creates big ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz's :Grope:

Good luck :hug:

 

[Trinity]

There are some great suggestions on here already, I find one thing works for me and that's my breathing and a relaxation technique...

Imagine a silk sheet at the bottom of the bed, take a deep breath in, hold it for 3 seconds, imagine pulling the silk sheet up to your ankles and as you release the breath relax your feet, breath all the way out.

Take a deep breath, hold it for 3 seconds, imagine the silk sheet pulled up to your knees and release the breath as you feel the silk hit your skin and the muscles in your lower legs relax.

Keep going with a deep breath in, imagine the silk sheet moving up your body in stages (after your knees up to your hips, relax your upper legs, up to your waist, relax your bum. Up to your chest, relax your stomach. Up to your shoulders, relax your arms, over your head, relax your jaw and eyes and forehead) and release each time you imagine the sheet moving up.

Once you reach your head, work your way back down again and all the way off. Sometimes I don't even reach my head on the way up and the regular breathing slows my mind and I drop off.

I might feel strange at first, but it really works, and lets face it, you have nothing to lose and a good nights sleep to gain LOL

 

[bubbabinks]

There are some great suggestions on here already, I find one thing works for me and that's my breathing and a relaxation technique...

Imagine a silk sheet at the bottom of the bed, take a deep breath in, hold it for 3 seconds, imagine pulling the silk sheet up to your ankles and as you release the breath relax your feet, breath all the way out.

Take a deep breath, hold it for 3 seconds, imagine the silk sheet pulled up to your knees and release the breath as you feel the silk hit your skin and the muscles in your lower legs relax.

Keep going with a deep breath in, imagine the silk sheet moving up your body in stages (after your knees up to your hips, relax your upper legs, up to your waist, relax your bum. Up to your chest, relax your stomach. Up to your shoulders, relax your arms, over your head, relax your jaw and eyes and forehead) and release each time you imagine the sheet moving up.

Once you reach your head, work your way back down again and all the way off. Sometimes I don't even reach my head on the way up and the regular breathing slows my mind and I drop off.

I might feel strange at first, but it really works, and lets face it, you have nothing to lose and a good nights sleep to gain LOL

My hubbie gets me to do this when I can't sleep either but without the silk sheet, concentrating on relaxing a body part a bit at a time.
It really does work, I usually don't make the whole body before I zzzzz:lol:

 

[DocJohn]

I would recommend you Melatrol. It has combined quality natural ingredients to combat insomnia on a long term basis: compounds such as melatonin and gamma amino butyric acid are commonly found in healthy people, however many individuals do not produce enough of these compounds, and as a result experience trouble falling asleep and sleeping through the night.

 

[Annie23]

I suffer from terrible insomnia and have done for many years, not for as long as calla though. I can understand what you mean about taking medication because I won't take it either, I just live with it. However, like calla regardless of time of day I take advantage of sleeping whenever I am tired, but as I don't work I'm lucky enough to be in that position.

I know this is difficult but don't try to fight it, if I'm not tired I don't lay there trying to sleep its a painful excercise and it doesn't work. Thats why I'm often on here late at night, I would be mortified if I didn't have my laptop.

Just to let you know, don't worry too much about not sleeping for 4 days, I once went over a week without any sleep at all, it was pretty awful but I got through it.

anne xx :hug: